Collapsible package for parcel-post and other uses.



T. J. DAY.

COLLAPSiBLE PACKAGE FOR PARCEL POST AND OTHER USES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1915.

1,147,613. Patented July 20, 1915.

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wi/fneme/a 1 ZZZ/j) COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 50.,WASHINOTON, n. c.

T. J. DAY.

' COLLAPSIBLE PACKAGE FOR PARCEL POST AND OTHER USES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. 1915..

1,147,613. Patented July 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WMM mm 2 Q I I g v TIT'US 3'. DAY, OF DAMASGU'S, MARYLAND.

GOLLAPSIBLE'PAGKAGE FOR PARCEL-POST AND OTHER Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented July 20, 1915.

Application filed March 3, 1915. Serial No. 12,994..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TrrUs J. DAY,a citi zen of the United States ofAmerica, resid ing at Damascus, in thecouuty ofMontgomery, in the StateofMaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improve-' ments inCollapsible Packages for Parcel- Post and other Uses, whereof thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a collapsiblebox, crate, or similar packageadapted for the shipping of fruit, vegetables, eggs, chickens and otherarticles by parcel post, express or otherwise. i

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a top plan view of oneembocliment of this invention in set-up position, the cover being swungopen and parts being broken out to facilitate illustration; thisembodiment showing a box comprising a plurality of compartments. Fig. 2represents a perspective view thereof in partially collapsed position.Fig. 3 represent an edge view thereof in collapsed position. Fig. 4represents a transverse'section looking toward the right on line 44 ofFig. 1. F1g. 5 represents on a larger scale, a top plan view of one ofthe folding end walls showing a form of hinged joint which tends tothrow the folding end inward rather than outward. Fig. 6 represents atop plan of a single-compartment box embodying this nvention, the lidbeing partially open.

The same reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the differentfigures, round numbersbeing used for the principal elements andintermediate numbers for the adjunctive features thereof.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 the package is in the formof a rectangular box and comprises a front wall 10, a back wall 20, afolding end wall 30, a folding end wall 40, a bottom 50, a lid and anintermediate transverse folding wall 7 O which divides the box into aplurality of compartments. In set-up position the front wall 10 and thebackwall 20 overlaps the ends of the end walls 30 and 40 respectively.The folding end wall 30 is composed of two members 31' and 32. Themember 31 has a hinged joint connection at its front end with the frontwall 10 by an interior hinge 15 and the member 32 has a hinged jointconnection at its rear end with the back wall 20 by an interior hinge.25. The

7 members 31 and 32 have also a hinged joint connection with each otherby an exterior hinge As thus constructed the end wall folds inward incollapsing. The abutting edges and 34 are beveled outward forming anoutwardly flaring joint, and the hinge is. so placed as to cause stressat the contact points ofsaid joint when the box 1s set up and themembers 32 and 34 are in alineme'nt as shown in Fig. 1. This stress ssufficient to cause the end wall to bulge inward automatically whenreleased by the outswinging of the top 60 and bottom 50,-

whereby anerroneous outward bulgethereof is prevented and a propercollapsing of the box is facilitated. The folding end wall 40 iscomposed of two members .41 and 42. The member-41 has a hinged jointconnection at its front end with the front wall 10 by an interiorhinge15 and the member 42 joint opposite the hinge when the box is set up andthe members are in alinement'. This stress is sufficient to cause thisend wall to bulge inward and automatically effect a proper collapsingwhen unlocked or re leased. This stress also operates to counteract anyoutward pressure ofthe contents of. the box and prevent outward bulgingthereof. p

The bottom 50 is flexibly connected to the front wall lO-by exteriorhinges 55. The leaves 56 of said hinge's are preferably attached byrivets, screws or other suitable means to the outer'face of said frontwall with their pintle sockets at the lower edge thereof and the leaves57 are connected to the outer face of said bottom so that said pintlesockets are remotefrom the edge of said bottom a distance substantiallycorresponding to the thickness of said front wall.

tom and underlie the edges of the front wall 10 and the back wall 20,said cleats along their outer side edges projecting beyond the ends ofsaid bottom and underlying the lower edges of the end walls 30 and 10.An intermediate transverse cleat 53 is also preferably attached to thebottom 10 and its opposit-e ends underlie the lower edges of the frontand back walls.

The lid or cover is connected to the back wall 20 by exterior hinges 65,whereof the leaves 66 are preferably attached to the rear face of saidback wall with their pintle sockets above the upper edge thereof and theleaves 67 are attached to the outer face of said lid so that said pintlesockets are remote from the rear edge of the lid a distancesubstantially corresponding to the thickness of said rear wall. The lidthus shuts into the body and aids in looking the box in setup position.The lid is preferably provided at its opposite ends with transverseexterior strengthening cleats 61 and 62, which project beyond the frontand rear edges of said lid and overlie the upper edge of the back wall20 and the front wall 10, said cleats projecting along their outer sideedges beyond the ends of said lid and overlying the upper edges of theend walls 30, and 40. The lid is also preferably provided with anintermediate transverse strengthening cleat 63, the ends of whichoverlie the upper edges of the back and front walls 10 and 20.

In the embodiment above referred to, the box is provided with anintermediate transverse folding partition wall 70 which divides theinterior thereof into two compartments. This intermediate wall iscomposed of two sections 71 and 72. The front end of the section 71 hasa hinged joint connection with the front wall 10 by a hinge 75 and therear end of the section 72 is flexibly connected with the rear wall 20by a hinge 76. These two sections have a hinged joint connection witheach other by hinge 77 disposed on the opposite side of the wall fromthe hinges 75 and 76. This intermediate dividing wall 70 folds in unisonwith the folding end walls 30 and 40 when the box is collapsed. Thepartition 70 has also a stress in one of hinged joint connections whenthe box 1s set up and the members are in ahnement, such stress causing,when the partition is released, an initial folding movement whichfacilitates collapsing. In the embodiment shown the stress hinged jointis disposed where the members 71 and 72 are hinged together, theabutting edges 7 3 and 7 4: being beveled and forming a folding stresscontact at the faces of said members opposite those to which the hingeis attached.

Suitable means are provided for holding the bottom and lid closed andthe box in set-up position. For holding the bottom in closed position,fasteners 80 and are swiveledin vertical bearings 81 and 86 disposed onthe inner face of the back wall 20 adjacent to its lower edge and nearits opposite ends. These swiveled fasteners have respectively angularhooks 82 and 87 at their lower ends and angular handles 83 and 88 attheir upper ends, the angular handles being at right angles to saidhooks. The fastener 80 is shown in looking position in Fig. 1, thehandle 83 thereof being swung toward the outer end 30 of the box againstthe back wall 20 and the hook 82 extending under and engaging the bottom50 and engaging a staple 84 in said bottom as shown in dotted lines ofsaid figure. The fastener 85 is like the fastener 80 except that itshook 87 is in reversed position. As shown in Fig. 1 this fastener is inreleased position, the handle 88 thereof being swung toward the outerend of the box against the back wall 20 and the hook 87 thereofprojecting rearward.

For holding the lid 60 closed, fasteners 90 and are swiveled in verticalbearings 91 and 96 secured to the outer face of the front wall 10adjacent to its upper edge near its opposite ends. The fastener 90 hasat its upper end an angular hook 92 and at its lower end a handle 93.When the handle 93 is swung against the wall 10 toward the outer endthereof, the fastener is in open position as shown in Fig. 2. When thehandle 98 is swung around in a horizontal plane into contact with thewall 10 at the right of the fulcrum 91, the hook 92 engages by a drawingaction a staple 94 on the outer face of the lid 60 near the front edgethere of, and said handle, which has a loop or slot, slides over outsidea staple 94 in said front wall. The hook 95 is similar in constructionand function to the fastener 90.

A fastening means which performs the double function of holding theintermediate wall 7 0 in set-up position and of supporting the bottomofthe box when in that position, comprises a twopart fastener of anysuitable construction for this purpose. The .fastener shown consists ofa hasp pivoted to the folding wall 70 on the face thereof opposite thatto which the hinge is applied, and a staple 101 secured to the bottom50. This hasp is shown in looking position in Fig. 1. The lid 60 ispreferably provided with a suitable handle or handles for lifting it.Two handles 110 and 115 are shown disposed near opposite ends of saidlid.

Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of this invention, wherein the foldingintermediate wall for dividing the interior into a plurality ofcompartments is omitted. In this case the front wall 10, the back wall20, the bottom 50' and the lid 60 are relatively shorter than in theembodiment previously described; otherwise the parts may be the same.Assuming that the package is in setup position, to reduce it to acompact collapsed position for transportation, the fasteners 90 and 95are swung out of engagement with the lid 60 and the latter is swungupward, over, and downward into vertical position fiat against the back20. Then the hasp 100 on the intermediate wall 7 0 is disengaged fromthe eye or staple 105 on the bottom and said bottom is swung downward,outward and upward into vertical position against the front wall 10.Then the front and back walls 10 and 20 are pushed toward each other andthe end walls 30 and 40 fold inward on their opposite end andintermediate hinges and the intermediate wall 70 also folds on itsopposite end and intermediate hinges, as indicated in Fig. 2. The partsthen come together in compacted collapsed position as shown in Fig. 3.In setting up the box from the collapsed position shown in Fig. 8, theback and front walls are pulled apart andthe folding end andintermediate Walls straightened. Then the bottom 50 is swung downward,backward and upward into the body'thus formed, and

the fasteners 80, 85 and 100 are adjusted in locking position wherebythe box is firmly set-up ready to be filled. Then the lid 60 is swungupward, forward and downward into closed position and secured therein bythe fasteners 90 and 95.

This invention may be embodied in a great variety of packages, of thischaracter for containing various articles in divers quantities fortransportation.

When set up the box or crate is light, strong and durable and whencollapsed it is very compact. In collapsed position there are noprojecting ends extending beyond the area of the front and back walls.

I claim as my invention:

1. A collapsible package comprising side walls, folding end walls havinghinged oint connections with said side walls and composed of pluralmembers having a hinged joint connection parallel with the hinged jointconnections aforesaid, one of said hinged joint connections being underfolding connections with said side walls and composed of plural membershaving a hinged joint connection parallel with the hinged jointconnections aforesaid, one of said hinged joint connections being underfolding stress in set-up position, a bottom having an offset hingedconnection with one of said walls and operative to shut within saidwalls and lock them in set-up position, and means for fastening saidbottom in closed position.

3. A collapsible package comprising side walls, folding end walls havinghinged connections with said side walls and composed of plural membershinged together on lines parallel with the hinged connections aforesaid,and having their meeting edges outwardly beveled and under stress whichtends to bulge'the ends inward, a bottom having an offset hingedconnection with one of said walls and operative to shut within saidwalls and lock them in set-up position, and means for fastening saidbottom in closed position.

4. A collapsible package comprising side walls, folding end walls havinghinged connections with said side walls and composed of plural membershinged together on lines parallel with the hinged connections aforesaid,a folding intermediate wall having hinged connections with said sidewalls and composed of plural members hinged together on lines parallelwith the hinged connections aforesaid, a bottom having an offset hingedconnection with one of said walls and operativeto shut within said wallsand lock them in set-up position, means for fastening said bottom inclosed position and a fastener connecting said intermediate wall withsaid bottom and performing the double function of stiffening said walland supporting said bottom between its ends.

Y TITUS J. DAY. Witnesses:

MARJORIE G. MACKALL, THOMAS L. DAWSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

